Foil (literature)

This article is about a character foil. For other types of foil, see Foil (disambiguation).
Don Quixote and his sidekick Sancho Panza, as illustrated by Gustave Doré: the characters' contrasting qualities[1] are reflected here even in their physical appearances

In fiction, a foil is a character who contrasts with another character (usually the protagonist) in order to highlight particular qualities of the other character.[2][3][4] In some cases, a subplot can be used as a foil to the main plot. This is especially true in the case of metafiction and the "story within a story" motif.[5] The word foil comes from the old practice of packing gems with foil in order to make them shine more brightly.[6]

A foil usually either differs dramatically or is extremely similar but with a key difference setting them apart. The concept of a foil is also more widely applied to any comparison that is made to contrast a difference between two things.[7] Thomas F. Gieryn places these uses of literary foils into three categories, which Tamara A. P. Metze explains as: those that emphasize the heightened contrast (this is different because ...), those that operate by exclusion (this is not X because...), and those that assign blame ("due to the slow decision-making procedures of government...").[8]

Examples from literature

In Frankenstein, by Mary Shelley, the two main characters: Dr. Frankenstein and his "creature" are both together literary foils, functioning to compare one to the other.

In Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice, Mary's absorption in her studies places her as a foil to her sister Lydia Bennet's lively and distracted nature.[9]

Similarly, in Shakespeare's play Julius Caesar, the character Brutus has foils in the two characters Cassius and Mark Antony.[10]

In the Harry Potter series, Draco Malfoy can be seen as a foil to the Harry Potter character; Professor Snape enables both characters "to experience the essential adventures of self-determination"[11] but they make different choices; Harry chooses to oppose Lord Voldemort and the Death Eaters, whereas Draco eventually joins them.

See also

References

  1. ↑ Corwin, Norman (1978-04-01). Holes in a stained glass window. L. Stuart. ISBN 9780818402555. Retrieved 3 March 2013.
  2. ↑ "foil | literature | Encyclopedia Britannica". Britannica.com. Retrieved 2015-02-18.
  3. ↑ "Home : Oxford English Dictionary". Oed.com. Retrieved 2015-02-18.
  4. ↑ Auger, Peter (August 2010). The Anthem Dictionary of Literary Terms and Theory. Anthem Press. pp. 114–. ISBN 9780857286703. Retrieved 3 March 2013.
  5. ↑ "Chegg Study | Guided Solutions and Study Help | Chegg.com". Cramster.com. Retrieved 2015-02-18.
  6. ↑ "Online Etymology Dictionary". Etymonline.com. Retrieved 2015-02-18.
  7. ↑ "Define Foil at Dictionary.com". Original publisher, Collins World English Dictionary, reprinted at Dictionary.com. Retrieved 3 March 2013.
  8. ↑ Metze, Tamara Antoine Pauline (2010). Innovation Ltd. Eburon Uitgeverij B.V. pp. 61–. ISBN 9789059724532. Retrieved 3 March 2013.
  9. ↑ Leverage, Paula (2011). Theory of Mind and Literature. Purdue University Press. pp. 6–. ISBN 9781557535702. Retrieved 3 March 2013.
  10. ↑ Marrapodi, Michele (2011-03-01). Shakespeare and Renaissance Literary Theories: Anglo-Italian Transactions. Ashgate Publishing, Ltd. pp. 132–. ISBN 9781409421504. Retrieved 28 February 2013.
  11. ↑ Heilman, Elizabeth E. (2008-08-05). Critical Perspectives on Harry Potter. Taylor & Francis US. pp. 93–. ISBN 9780203892817. Retrieved 3 March 2013.
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